City looks at race policy to mitigate congestion

Duluth officials have been working since earlier this year to evaluate the city’s 5K race events to create a policy to mitigate road congestion and interruption of service due to road closings.

As part of this process, the city’s park and police staff have reviewed alternative routes to the Irvindale loop. For safety, security and staffing reasons, the downtown option was deemed the best location. Park staff also checked with other cities and noted that 90 percent of these types of events are coordinated through the marketing/events department rather than parks and recreation.

Among the council members suggestions were including cleanup fees, better road closure notification, and staffing concerns.

Traditionally Duluth hosts four to five races per year combined with secondary street closure for some events. City officials plan to further study the issue before any decisions are made.

UPCOMING

Walk Through Bethlehem’s 25th Anniversary. 7-9 p.m. Friday, Saturday; 6-8 p.m. Sunday. Free, including hot chocolate. Simpsonwood Park across from Simpsonwood United Methodist Church, 4500 Jones Bridge Circle, Peachtree Corners. Canned food will be accepted for Norcross Cooperative Ministry. 770441-2181, Simpsonwoodumc.org/ missions/walk_thru_bethlehem, facebook.com/NorcrossCM.

Clark’s Christmas Kids, providing gifts for more than 8,000 children in Georgia foster care. 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday with Clark Howard live on air 9 a.m. to noon on WSB News 95.5/ AM 750. Walmart, 2635 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth. 770-4180162, clark.com/ChristmasKids.

Auditions for New Dawn Kids. 4:30-6 p.m. Dec. 13. Free. New Dawn Theater Company, 3650-A Satellite Blvd., Duluth. “From Here to There and Back Again” will be performed in March. 678-887-5015, NewDawn TheaterCompany.com.